Page 52 of An Accidental Love Affair

“What are you doing with that?” Nicole asked, grabbing her sister’s phone. “Did you send yourself that picture? Why would you do that?”

Lindsey shot her a look of frustration. “It’s a beautiful picture, Coley. It’s like poetry. Everything you’re both feeling is clear on your faces.” Her voice was wistful. “I’d like to have a guy look at me like that someday.”

Nicole handed the phone to Audrey. “Just make sure he’s not an actor, okay?” Her mouth twisted. “You shouldn’t have invaded my privacy, Lindsey. That makes you as bad as the paparazzi.”

“I’m only sharing it with Audrey. Even Mom and Dad haven’t seen it.”

“Daddy’s seen more than he needed to.”

Audrey had grown quiet as she studied the picture. The way Reece was holding Nicole and kissing her forehead, combined with the way she was looking up at him in complete rapture, said it all. As unlikely as it seemed, they had fallen in love with each other. It wasn’t just Nicole’s feelings on the line, but Reece’s as well. You can’t fake the kind of emotion that was showing clearly on his face.

Audrey peered up from the camera at Nicole. The girl knew deep down how this man really felt about her, but for whatever reason, she was using his fame as an excuse to run from something she wasn’t ready to face.

She cleared her throat. “If you can convey onto the page the kind of emotion I’m seeing from this picture, your book will make for some good, can’t put it down, just let me read one more chapter to see what happens next, reading.”

“I try to write all my books that way.”

“And you’re getting closer every time, but this one will be the one to put you over the edge.” She handed the phone back to Lindsey. “Do this picture justice.”

Nicole glanced down at the image, knowing it was time to add her heart to the story and to write about the man she still adored.

~ ~ ~

Nicole arrived in Raleigh shortly after four in the afternoon. Her brother was waiting at baggage claim. As soon as he grabbed her luggage, they headed out the exit.

“Why didn’t Mom and Dad come to get me?”

Thad looked left as he merged into traffic on I-40. “Dad’s busy at the store, and Mom’s visiting Aunt Mary in the hospital.”

Nicole’s head turned quickly toward her brother. “Aunt Mary’s in the hospital again? Is it serious?”

Thad nodded. “She had another heart attack, but the doctors say her prognosis is good. Mom’s going to stay with her for a few days after she’s released and back on her feet.”

“What’s Dad going to do in the meantime?”

“He’s going to spend a couple nights at my house. Deb’s already got the guest bedroom set up.”

Nicole’s eyebrows rose. “Does that mean I have the entire DeLancey house to myself?”

Thad cut his eyes to her, his gaze pensive. “Actually, we have a favor to ask of you.”

She sighed. “What is it?”

“We need you to go down to the beach and check on the house. There’s been a few storms touching the coast lately. Dad wants to make sure things are secure before the season kicks into full swing.”

“Can’t you do it?”

He snorted. “I wish. I’m overloaded at work as it is, and I’ve been helping Dad at the store on the weekends.”

Nicole glanced out the window. “So, he wants me to do what exactly?”

“He wants you to go down and stay for a couple weeks. Check for leaks, cracks, or anything else that needs fixing. Let him know if you find anything.”

She put her feet on the dash. “You know that if I go down there, I’m going to be hanging out on the beach and getting a good tan.”

He snorted again. “If I know you, you’ll be sitting in the shade with your face in a book.”

She laughed. “You know me well, big brother.”

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